Friday, August 12, 2016

~ Friday Morning Musings ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!

you know it's going to be another hot day 
when the locusts start scratching out their late-summer songs by 8:00 in the morning…

I'll try to savor these days, although I really am wishing it away.
{so sorry summer-lovers, I am an October girl.}

The heat has been miserable for our farm-friends.
Daisy & Pinocchio have been sweating awful, and the flies this year are biting like crazy.
A fly-spray made from herbals is a good remedy, but just not enough ~


our handsome sweaty-boy Pinocchio {"Nocchi"}

what a mush face!
as big as he is, he's gentle as a kitten with us ~
especially loves Peter.
:)




little Daisy is done with this weather.
she said it makes her hair frizzy.




the rains have been a boon to the earth & our well,
but the grass & gardens have overgrown.

we have fairy rings of mushrooms & fungi all over the farmyard,
and the mold spores are wreaking havoc with my allergies.




even though they are deadly poisonous,
i find them beauty-full.







 withering flowers and yellowing leaves are showing sure signs of change ~
hinting at perhaps an early Autumn?
{hoping for an early & lengthy one!}




there is beauty among the weeds, and even the weeds themselves hold magic
if we just look close enough…




Hannah & I went to see the Dixie Chicks in VA Beach on Wednesday night!!!!
oh my stars & garters! what a fabulous time we had ~
 my beautiful daughter gifted me with tickets for Mother's day ~
we have love 'the Chicks' forever and Hannah grew up singing their songs!

best. time. ever.

although it was HOT HOT HOT ~ the concert was filled to the brim…
thank goodness we had lawn seats & enjoyed the cooler nighttime breeze.

LOVE YOU HANNAH ~ thank you for making that dream come true for me!




back home, it's just too hot & muggy to be outside stitching,
so I just stay in this old farmhouse and stitch in the artificial air ~ 
{{...yes, it's cool but I prefer to breathe fresh air,  thankyouverymuch.}}

I have been putting the last stitched embellishments on "Jack's Folly'
and will be backing/binding it today…
I am loving it!




using wool, cotton fabrics and variegated threads
make this a fun project ~




I've mentioned how I love to do 'double appliqué' before, 
~ instead of needle-turn appliqué or freezer paper method…

 and for those that may not know what I mean,
 it is simply where you place your paper appliqué template, in this case a leaf, like the ones below,
 and trace it onto the wrong side of doubled cotton print fabric. 
Then you machine-stitch it completely around, cut a slit into one side and turn right sides out…
so now you have a leaf that looks like it could be stuffed, BUT instead of stuffing it,
you pin it {in my case staple it} to your background fabric and then appliqué it into place.

… clear as mud?

makes for a nice, clean-edges and dimensional motifs 
that adds a little oomph to our projects.

This will be a pattern available soon, in our Etsy shop ~
along with the 2 cross stitch designs and 2 punch needle designs
they will all be available as PDF patterns for you to print yourselves,
~  as well as regularly mailed patterns if so chosen.
:)




In Other News:
I am working on creating a NEW website where you can go to purchase our patterns, 
supplies & finished goods for the needleworker…this is something that Peter & I have been wanting to do for a while, but like all Good Things, takes time.
We think it will be more user-friendly for our customers, and it will be like visiting us here at our own little farm shop….more to come on this, so stay tuned :)

Primitive Punch Needle Club Kits are shipping,
 although I am waiting on a backorder of threads ~ and a backorder of linen has arrived too…
Peter & I thank you kindly for your patience
xoxoxox

and

I have not been feeling well lately.
I don't know what it is ~ my jaw hurts, my muscles are cramping and I am sometimes feverish.
yes, the heat takes it's toll, but me thinks it's something more.

I will be seeing the doctor today, so please keep me in your thoughts?

talk again soon!
 ~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

24 comments:

Jane said...

My dear Lori!! Hope you're feeling better soon. It's rotten to feel rotten in this heat. We had colds most of July :-(
Love the applique' and OF COURSE our favorite Notforgotten Friends, Daisy and Pinocchio!! I have some commissions so I've been hookin' like crazy. Hope to see you soon.
HUGS.......

Anonymous said...

Yes! You are definitely in my thoughts, Lori. I'm sorry you're feeling under the weather. Jack's Folly is looking adorable, as do you and your dear daughter (you two look so alike!). And hey! The Dixie Chix are from my end of the country! Yeee-hawww! And just for the record, I don't think there is any such thing as weeds. ;)

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

This heat is taking its toll. Sending you all I can for healing and healthy vibes from the humid and sweltering Canadian prairies! xoxo

Patti said...

Sending healing thoughts and prayers! LOVE Jack's Folly! And oh how I want to meet you, Peter, Pinnocchio and Daisy in person one day!!!!
Blessings, Patti

Vicki Jo said...

Lori - I hope you are feeling better soon! Thanks for the lovely post about your family and farm and beautiful creative work. You bring such joy. Take care of yourself!

Prims and Needles said...

Lori, I hope you feel better real soon. I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees, 2 herniated discs with nerve impingement and fibromyalgia. Let me tell you, I feel ya, especially in this weather. I have been putting off going to the grocery store all week, but I am dragging, and I do mean dragging myself there this week. Anyhoo, I hope you feel better soon. I also wanted to say that I absolutely love your applique' method. That is so cool, and I can't wait to try it out. Have a good weekend and stay cool. I will be hibernating in my craft room with the ac. I too hate not having fresh air, but in this heat, I am non-functional. Keep Stitching, Love, Coline

Sue Tokash said...

I am also a cold weather gal and this heat has taken it's toll on me too.
I hope you get some answers to what is ailing you.

Sue Tokash said...

I am also a cold weather gal and this heat has taken it's toll on me too.
I hope you get some answers to what is ailing you.

NMK said...

It is great to share so much fun with your daughter ! Our bonds with our daughters are so special . This humidity is oppressive , I have heard lots of people that I see at work complaining about the same feelings you are having . Hopefully it isn't anything serious. Cool weather & fresh crisp air is what we all need !!! Take care ! Hope you feel better soon !!!

gracie said...

Love the farm pictures you share...and this newest pattern is sweet. Thank you again for the tips that you share with us to make us better at what we do.

janice15 said...

A wonderful post I so enjoyed every part and word. Your Pinocchio is adorable it made me chuckle i side seeing his photos and Daisy too. So cute. I love the Dixie chicks, didn't know they were still out there singing. Reminds me of my mama she loved country music, Merle Haggard was her favorite. Her and daddy would go dancing all the time and me and mama would do the line dances.. So sweet of your daughter to bet you tickets. I hope your feeling better. For some reason I'm even ready for winter and Inlove fall... Happy Weekend with love Janice

Jacqueline said...

good thoughts and prayers for you.

marly said...

Please update us on how you are feeling!

pattyb said...

Praying you will feel better soon and that whatever is making you feel ill will be nothing serious! Blessings~

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Lori. Please let us know how you are doing. Must be hard to feel creative when you're not up to par. I've been wanting to do so much and unfortunately just broke my shoulder. I think I probably can do hooking and cross stitch and maybe even punch needle, eventually but for now the drugs have made me so sleepy that I don't even feel like looking at facebook much! Take care of yourself, thoughts and prayers are with you...

kelley said...

best wishes on your health Lori...the heat is taking it's toll on everyone here this summer...we love our AC but sure miss the fresh air...hugs

elaine allerton said...

Lori,,,,, miss ur posts ,,,, wondered if u were very busy or,,,, sick,,,,, hope u find out what is wrong,,,, the pics of you and ur daughter is great! Wow,,, you look alike ,,, sweet!,¡
Jack mat ,,, lovely ,,,,,
Maybe a comnination of heat,,,,, tired,,,, you guys sure keep busy all the time !!!!
Love thecpics of ur animals , too,,,
Take care,
Thinking of you,,,,
Excited for the punch needle kit coming to my mailbox,,,,,

Susan said...

Be still my heart.......loving Pinnochio, well and Daisy, but he sure is handsome! Hope you are soon feeling better!

TheCrankyCrow said...

The weather has been a bit odd all over it seems...even a bit on the warm side here in Nod, although it's mostly due to the oppressive humidity....although the nights still slip into the 60's and 50's for the most part. This is the time of year we usually head into a drought...but we have been getting some royal dumpings...Seems like at least once a week we get hit with a storm bringing anywhere from 2-4" of rain in a few hours. The lawn is getting spongy and I'm seeing varieties of fungi I've never ever seen before LOL. Love your new Jack's Folly...and your precious pets. Lucky you to see the Dixie Chicks!! I LOVE them so...always have been a favorite of mine. Take care...glad you're seeing a dr...will be keeping you in thought and prayers. Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

woollabeast said...

It's been too much with our heat Lori & feel for your fur babies too! Loving your "Jack Folly" ...know it's going to be great when it's all finished!!

But on another note...YOU have me worried dear lady! We both live where there is great issue with Lyme Disease (as you know from Peter's results of it last year or the year before). I'm going to send you an private email (look for it please) as my husband is having this "extended" Broadband Western Blot blood panel test this next week as a start & then there are "more extensive panel tests" that may need to be done.

There are some SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS new strains of Lyme plus issues with MOLD (Candida) that can show symptoms like you are expressing: (muscle aches & cramping, fatigue, fever). Don't want to alarm, just want to arm you with more info.

Woolly Hugs my friend, (information is power). ~~Diane

Saundra said...

Goodness, hope you are okay. Did you get bitten by a mosquito or tick? Even tho I'm way over the reproductive age worry about the zika virus and lyme.

Kimberly said...

I hope this message finds you feeling better. This heat is soo hard to work with. Your daughter is beautiful so nice that you will have those wonderful memories with her. Take good care & enjoy your day.~My Best, Kimberly

rx2massey said...

Hopeful your test results come back as normal/good...and you are feeling better with the approach of fall!

Charlene ♥ NC said...

If only I could NOT stitch long enough to be proficient in punch and appliqué! Everything you do is so enticing! Hope there's good reports from the doc, and that you feel well soon!